This is the first of two breakdowns of Jackie MacMullan's 1999 book 'Bird Watching,' a document of Larry Bird's post-playing career and initial season as coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1997-98. It is a great book, a fun read, and this is the
Damian Lillard's decision to return to Portland, Marcus Smart's launch toward Los Angeles, Chris Paul and Bradley Beal's collusion to remain out West, these are not major deals, massive shifts. No team in the dilapidated East is particularly envious of the additions. We hope
There was a time when "Crazy Train" was not on classic rock radio. Readers might think that I'm worth a one-way ticket with this particular recollection, but not only was "Crazy Train" not on classic rock radio, the idea of "Crazy Train"
This is the spoiler alert. If you would like to enjoy Gene Wojciechowski and Reggie Miller's fine work in full, the book is very enjoyable and very affordable! There are many, crackling, moments I left out of this email. The book is a must-read for any Pacer fan,
Indiana Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard met the media on Monday, something he doesn't do often despite good reason to, as Pritchard built a near-NBA champion in 2024-25. Built it, watched it taken from him. The Pacers were in with a chance during Game 7, all-but-belief crushed with 88
Before we cap the offseason, another three-team boost! The Clippers traded Norman Powell and didn't do it for a future first-round draft pick (whom will enter seventh grade in a few weeks). The Miami Heat pick up Norm, good basketball there. Clippers pick up John Collins, ex-Jazz, good
We want to think that, when a large Boom hits, there exists a studied reason behind that big ol' noise. That, whatever the hell that was, it was well-considered. Someone or something thought long and hard before, listen, we still don't know, maybe a transformer went. Maybe
Myles Turner left Indiana to go to the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana's fiercest rival. The Bucks are the only team the Pacers fight, the Pacers are the only team the Bucks fight, but Myles Turner left one to join the other. Why? Tax. The Pacers did not compete with
And NBA free agency has overwhelmingly become the realm of the role player. Sorry, Paul George. I guess that's what you were last summer, hopping up on stage with ABC and Joel Embiid. A role player. Some former All-Stars switched teams as free agents on Monday, but, they
Free agency begins Monday and nobody will go anywhere because the union and the NBA decided to encourage players via pay raise to re-sign with their own teams. Worse, much worse, each side decided to smooth out the salary cap increase earned via the new streaming rights deal. Boring. Super,
When I loved baseball, really really loved baseball, it felt as if baseball fans my parents' age were more in love with the baseball players their parents liked than the baseball players their own age. Maybe it is the same trap, everyone reflecting fondly upon things from when they
Cleveland spiced its title approach a little on Saturday, adding Lonzo Ball to the spread. Ball is 28 in October and worked but 70 games over the last four NBA seasons, undergoing a full meniscus transplant on his left knee, the first comeback of its kind in NBA history. His